Gandolfini had spent the day before his death sightseeing in Rome. He toured the Vatican with his 13-year-old son Michael before enjoying an outdoor meal as they waited for Gandolfini's sister to arrive.

Although it was reported that Gandolfini enjoyed an extravagant meal the night before he died, his family has disputed those reports.

Michael Kobold, a family friend who has acted as the family's spokesman, said Gandolfini appeared to be in good health.

"Jim was a really happy guy, especially because he'd just had a baby daughter eight months ago," Kobold said. "He was extremely happy. He was healthy. There was nothing wrong with him, so this came as a surprise and a total shock."

Gandolfini was enjoying the vacation a few days before he was supposed to attend the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily this weekend and receive the Taormina City Prize.

Gandolfini fell ill Wednesday night in his room at the Hotel Exedra. The actor was taken to a hospital around 10:40 p.m. as paramedics attempted to resuscitate him.

At the hospital, doctors attempted to resuscitate the actor for another 40 minutes, but were unsuccessful, according to Prof. Claudio Modini, director of the hospital's emergency department.

"We are all devastated by this loss," Kobold said Friday. "James was a devoted husband, the loving father of two children and a brother and cousin we could always count on."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered all state flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Gandolfini.